Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1887-02-05

Everywhere amid the crumbling rock, dis
integrated by wintry frosts, quick eye
could detect the rudely- designed forms of
ancient denizens of world whose history
the Testimony of the Rocks alone has
preserved - ammonite and lrilobite = a
thousand forms of that elder world-sculp-
tured as if in marble caught upon the
plates of natures camera not like the fleet
ing shadows of human art, but indestruct-
ible and eternal. The hand of the geolo-
gist has despoiled the lands of the ''people
of the hills" of the best Of these treasures
and set them in museums and cabinets,
where they seem like SO many lost pleiades
1t was near sunset ON one of those quiet
days that Amber was seated beside the fall,
with lap full of specimens which she was
overlooking, when bit of fiuttering color
caught her eye on the rocks at the top of
the fall. She saw that it was Fay. The
tinkle of the falling water drowned her
voice, but the Indian girl waved something
above her head, and, agile as fawn, sped
down the rocky pathway and placed a
paper in Amber's trembling hands. Fay's
eyes were fastened upon her while she read.
The fair face paled, but she read to the end
Then, with moan, she dropped the paper
and hid her face in her hands. After a few
moments silence she looked up 20 Fay. as
if for some word of comfort
He is gone" she said, and could not
see him."
Fay nodded. Camp men all gone.
Three days gone by. He no say you come
with him?"
mo, oh no. He could not send TO me
or see me. The order came so suddenly
and so much was left for him to do"
You stay at Castle?"
"Yes, Fay, | suppose so, till God sends
peace" Wholly absorbed in her thoughts,
striving with her emotions and praying for
patience and submission, Amber took no
notice of the tone of her questioner
Every CLEAN of brightness had died out
of the sparkling face, and the spirit of
demon looked out from the sullen eyes,
With Amber at the Castle. she could never
regain the influence she had lost with the
Young Seneca. A great storm ragged in
that quiet bosom, and gratitude and affec-
ton were engulfed in it.
They were ascending the path TO the top
of the fall, Amber leading. Twice did Fay
raise her hand as if to push her rival into
the chasm, where the water sped swiftly
toward its final leap. But she hesitated.
and both entered the house. Amber
sought her own room, not forgetting to Of
fer its inequalities to Fay. They were
CURLY declined, and the daughter of the
forest rolled herself in a blanket and lay
down on wooden berch outside the door,
where the stars looked down upon her
Both the girls were stirring at daybreak,
Amber with swollen eyes and dry lips;
FAY silent and impressive. She would set
out at once, regardless of her kind aunt's
promise of good and speedy breakfast
Amber decided TO walk a short distance
with her to feel the GOODNESS of the morn
ing upon her burning forehead. The good
Catherine looked after them as they took
the forest path, little dreaming that never
again would her eyes be gladdened by the
sight of Amber Desmonde.
AS the girls approached the main road,
at a point where the village of Onandaga
Valley was spread out below them, Amber
broke the silence:
- will go back now, but soon l will be
at home again"
you shall not come" said Fay, turn
ing upon her fiercely. Amber faced her
with the same look of calm patience which
had often quelled Fay's outbreaks of tenn
per, for she had not always been docile
pupil. Yet, looking into the fiery eyes, she
realized that it was the wrath of a woman,
not the petulance of a child.
FAY poured out torrent of passionate
invective in Indian, French and broken
English.
Your wicked white face has.stolen away
the only love l ever cared for" she
shrieked. You may say you care not
He will make you care"
1t is the hallucination of jealousy, that
its object is irresistible. A swift expression
of pity and loathing, combined, passed over
the white girls face. 1t was instantly con-
trolled, but did not escape the notice of
Fay and made her furious
'iYou live with US; you eat our bread
YOU teach us; but you despise usr' she
cried. You shall not liver'
Swift as the spring of mountain cat, |
she threw herself upon Amber, and a |
struggle for life began. They were nearly |
matched in size and strength, and after the
first surprise Amber fought for her
life, and the combat was nearly
an equal one. She had hopes that
Fay's anger would spend itself in
the blows that she was giving, and de-
Tended herself without being the aggressor.
Her long hair came down in the struggle |
Fay seized it with one hand, and tried |
with the other to extricate from her |
clothing the huntipg-knife she al |
WAYS carried. Amber saw the act and |
OWNED the intention instantly, and |
now fought desperately against it. |
Life, though so sad, was still sweet, for !
its hopes, its possibilities. She had been |
silent, except for her sobbing, painting !
breath, but she now collected her failing |
energies into one awful ringing cry for help. |
ConcI,tded merit igeek